Two senior engineers have argued about an approach for weeks. What do you do?

Summary

Check whether it's a reversible decision; make sure both positions are written down with their trade-offs; set a decision date; decide (or have the owner decide) and explain why; record the minority concern as a revisit trigger; and ask everyone to disagree and commit.

Longer Answer

Often the debate is about preferences, not risks — reframe it around the problems each option solves and what evidence would change the decision. If a small experiment can settle it within days, run it. Then close: "I'm choosing B for these reasons; Tom's concern about X is our revisit trigger." Follow up privately with the person who disagreed so they feel heard. Long stalemates cost more than most wrong two-way-door decisions.

Key Points

• Write both options and trade-offs
• Decide by a date, explain the reasoning
• Record the concern as a revisit trigger; disagree and commit

Deep dive: Decision Speed: One-Way and Two-Way Doors

What interviewers look for

Ability to end stalemates respectfully and keep both engineers engaged.

Red flags

• Letting it run until someone gives up
• Deciding by seniority or volume